Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will any of the parishioner contributions be subject to the Archdiocese’s assessments?

A. No, 100 % of parishioner contributions will be used for the repairs and restoration. This is possible because the Archbishop has permitted donations to be exempt from the ordinary archdiocesan assesment.

Q. Will the parishioners be solely responsible for funding the campaign?

A. No. Although the parishioners will be the long-term beneficiaries of the campaign, the Parish has been actively seeking grants and donations from outside interested parties, foundations and historical societies. The Historic Renewal will span over many years and we are in the process of developing long-term relationships with these groups.

Q. Will we begin projects before funds are in place?

A. No, at this point we are planning to only begin projects when funds and/or pledges are in place.

Q. What happens if the campaign goal is not met or project costs exceed estimates?

A. As funds and pledges are received, we will initiate projects in the order of priority. If funds and pledges are not available, projects will be deferred until funds become available.

Q. What happens if funds are received in excess of the goal or projects cost less than expected?

A. There are many capital needs not covered in this campaign such as the Church roof which will need to be replaced in 4-7 years along with the Church furnace. Any excess funds would be held in reserve to help cover future planned projects.

Q. At the time of the merger with Mother of Divine Mercy, how much money did St. Joseph have and how much is left?

A. At the time of the merger, St. Joseph had $184,276 in cash and savings. These accounts were merged with Mother of Divine Mercy. St. Joseph Oratory received no funds from Mother of Divine Mercy when St. Joseph Oratory became its own parish on October 1, 2016. However, during the period in which St. Joseph was merged, Mother of Divine Mercy paid for capital items such as stained glass windows and extensive steeple repairs.

Q. Who owns St. Joseph Oratory and what is the role of the Institute of Christ the King in the operation of the Parish?

A. The Archdiocese of Detroit continues to own the physical buildings of St. Joseph Oratory and the parishioners continue to be responsible to fund the operation, maintenance and repairs of the Parish. However, the pastoral and spiritual care and the assignment of religious personnel to the Oratory is the responsibility of the Institute of Christ the King.